“What do we do now?” Jonathan asked.
“The ring … I can’t remove it,” Sabrina said. “I tried. One of the mages did, too, but when he tried to forcibly cut it off, it was like the ring hurt him and knocked him to the ground.”
“Probably a type of safeguard. Son,” Daric began, “what else have you learned about the ring?”
“Nothing much more than what we already know,” he said. “Although, I can confirm now that it does have the power of death and life. But I don’t know why she can’t take it off.”
“Some magical objects are known to bond with whoever possesses them,” Daric explained. “We didn’t have that problem with the dagger because it’s only used whenever there was an ascension ceremony. We don’t know about the necklace since the mages have that.”
“But why would they give it to Sabrina?” Meredith asked. “If it was so powerful, why hand it over to someone who wasn’t one of them?”
“Do you think they need Sabrina as a host for the ring?” Cross asked. He’d thought about it for a while, because he, too, had the same thoughts as his mother.
Daric paused for a moment. “Could be. But sometimes, the simplest explanations are the most likely.”
“That still doesn’t solve how we’re going to fix all this,” Cross said. “Should we go to Lucas?”
“Yes. But before that, you should know the reason we called you here.” Daric turned to Gunnar. “Will you tell them?”
Gunnar straightened his posture, then leaned forward, his fingers steepling together. “My vision has changed.”
Cross stared at his brother, dumbfounded. “What do you mean, changed? Did we stop it from happening?”
“Not quite,” he said. “Everything still happens as I told you. Up to a point.” His whiskey-brown eyes glazed over, and he stared forward blankly. “That ceremony … the necklace, the dagger, and Sabrina. She touches the two objects. She falls, and you catch her. You hold her, and she whispers something and then …”
“And then?” Cross asked.
“And that’s it.”
“That’s it?” he echoed.
“There was nothing after it,” he said. “I didn’t see the other events. Didn’t see or feel anyone dying. It didn’t end, you see. I think … I think it may mean the future changed. Or is still changing, I’m not sure.”
“But the rest didn’t change,” Cross said, frowning. “You still see the mages capture Sabrina and the other two artifacts.”
Gunnar had a strange look on his face. “I still see Sabrina and the artifacts.”
Sabrina’s grip on him tightened again. “We’ll find a way to stop them.”
“First, you must come clean to the Alpha,” Daric said. “Lucas is tough, but he will listen to you and your reasons.”
“And we’ll be there with you.” Meredith said, sending him a reassuring look.
Lucas Anderson wouldn’t be happy about this, but like his father said, he was a reasonable man. If his Alpha meted out any punishment, it would be well worth it if it meant keeping Sabrina safe and defeating the mages. “You’re right.”
“I’ll call the office and check where he is, then explain the situation.” Meredith reached for the mobile phone on the couch. “Then we can arrange to meet him.” As she dialed on her phone, she strode away from them, heading for the privacy of the kitchen.
“Your Alpha … he’s like your leader?” Sabrina asked.
“Yes. He’s the leader of the entire New York clan.”
Her brows wrinkled. “He’s mad at you for what you did. For helping me forget. And because you didn’t hand me or the ring over to him.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “But I don’t regret protecting you, Sabrina. I would do it over and over again. You’re my priority.”
“We’re … mates,” she said. “We were meant to be together.” Her head snapped up. “Maybe that’s why I couldn’t forget you.”
He smiled. “Yes, that’s probably why.” Her words earlier still shook him to the core. Three little words that turned his world upside-down. “When you took that potion and forgot about me, I felt like half a person. Which is strange, because I never felt like that before I met you.” He’d often wondered if the potion dulled the bond between them as well. He wanted to tell her how he felt, too, but not now, when he was surrounded by his family. Later, when they were alone, he would tell her.
“Cross, I—”
“He’s at Muccino’s,” Meredith said as she strode back into the living room. “He’s not alone. But he says we should come anyway.”
“Will you be all right, son?” Daric asked Gunnar.
“Yes, you should go now,” Gunnar said. “There’s no time to waste.”
“We can use the alley in the back.” Meredith looped her arm through Daric’s. “Lucas should be done clearing it by now.”
Cross turned to his brother. “Gunnar … thank you so much.”
“You’re thanking me?” Gunnar offered him a rare smile, his face looking much younger and less burdened than it usually did. “I’d thought you’d be cursing me by now.”
“I could never do that,” Cross said. Gunnar’s gifts were a part of him, and he loved his brother.
His smile didn’t fade as he turned to Sabrina. “It’s lovely to meet you. I hope it won’t be a while until we meet again.”
“You’re the one who can see the future, why don’t you tell me?” she asked.
“I like her,” Gunnar chuckled. “In case it’s longer than we expect …” He leaned down and brushed his cheek to hers as he put an arm around her.
Cross thought he heard his brother murmur something to Sabrina, but even his sensitive ears couldn’t pick it up. When she pulled away, there was a quizzical look on her face, but she nodded.
“What—”
She grabbed his hand and wrapped it around her waist. “We should go,” she said.
It gnawed at him, but he knew there were more important things right now. He offered his hand to Jonathan. “Let’s go. The Alpha will need to talk to you too.”
A few seconds later, they arrived in the
